Black Friday is generally better for buying electronics, toys, and popular, high-demand items, often featuring deeper discounts (30-70%) than post-Christmas, according to independent.co.uk data. Conversely, after-Christmas sales are superior for clearance, winter clothing, and holiday decorations, with 50-75% off, say Investopedia.
Are Black Friday deals better than Christmas deals? In many cases, yes — Black Friday deals tend to include steeper markdowns on tech and appliances. But for seasonal goods or items with lower demand, Christmas deals may offer comparable or even better savings.
The biggest sales events in the UK are Black Friday/Cyber Monday (late November), offering massive discounts across tech, fashion, and home goods, followed closely by the post-Christmas Boxing Day sales, a traditional peak for deep discounts on everything from electronics to fashion. Other major sales include the Summer Sales (June/July) and January Sales, plus back-to-school deals in August/September.
This day signifies a shift from red to black as consumers flock to stores seeking discounts that can save them significant amounts of money while preparing for Christmas. Contrary to some misconceptions, Black Friday does not fall after Christmas; rather, it comes about a month before December 25th.
Is Black Friday the best time to buy Christmas gifts?
The best time to buy Christmas gifts is during holiday sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the best deals. Shopping early in November or even as early as October can also help you avoid last-minute stress and higher prices.
10 Things You Should ALWAYS Buy RIGHT AFTER Christmas!
Should I wait until Black Friday to do Christmas shopping?
For Christmas gift shopping, it's better to do it a few weeks prior to Black Friday unless you are shopping online. If you are shopping online, shopping through Black Friday to Cyber Monday is good.
What is the 4 Gift Rule (Want, Need, Wear, Read)? The 4 gift rule is very simple: you get each of your children something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
Like winter clothing, Christmas decorations don't budge much in price until the big day is over. “Christmas trees, lights, decor, wrapping paper, and more will all be 50% to 75% off within a few weeks after Christmas," says Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom. "Buying ahead for next year will save you a bundle.”
Some items are cheaper than what you'll see the rest of the year, but they could also be lower quality versions of the products that the companies usually produce. They may be cutting production costs in order to offer these products at such low prices on Black Friday.
The 10-3-1 sales rule is a guideline suggesting that for every 10 qualified leads, you get about 3 meaningful conversations or proposals, and from those, you close 1 sale, emphasizing that consistent high activity, not just individual efforts, leads to success, especially in advisory or B2B sales. It's a way to manage expectations and understand that most attempts won't close, requiring a steady stream of opportunities to hit targets.
Neither Black Friday nor Boxing Day is universally better; Black Friday often has deeper discounts on tech and electronics, while Boxing Day shines for fashion, post-holiday clearance, and sometimes electronics that didn't sell earlier, but savvy shoppers should track specific items as deals vary by product, retailer, and year, with both events featuring both genuine bargains and inflated "deals". For the best results, research prices beforehand, as many deals are similar, and focus on specific items you need, notes The Independent, Money Saving Expert.
That said, shops will always have something up their sleeves to exclusively reveal on Black Friday itself, so it pays not to buy before the big day unless you're absolutely certain that something better won't come along (at the very least, make sure there's a good returns policy, just in case).
The We Ain't Buying It campaign – organized by many of the groups behind the No Kings protests – is asking Americans to stop shopping at Target, Home Depot and Amazon on Black Friday, one of the busiest retail days of the year, while also encouraging people to shop local and support community businesses.
No, Black Friday doesn't always make everything cheaper; many studies show that a large percentage of "deals" are actually the same price or even more expensive at other times of the year, with some retailers inflating prices beforehand to make discounts seem bigger, though genuine savings can be found on certain items if you track prices and compare. While some electronics or specific products see true price drops, it's crucial to use price tracking tools and not rush, as the hype can mislead shoppers into thinking they're getting a great deal when they're not.
A more accurate explanation of the term dates back to the early 1960s, when police officers in Philadelphia began using the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping and, in some years, attend Saturday's annual ...
The "5 Things for Christmas Rule" (or "Five Gift Rule") is a popular gift-giving guideline that limits each recipient to five thoughtful presents, typically structured as: something they Want, something they Need, something to Wear, something to Read, and something special/to Share (or Do). This method encourages quality over quantity, focusing on meaningful items that cover different aspects of a person's life rather than endless toys or clutter.
Heading out shopping the day after Christmas is akin to a neighborhood yard sale. Stores want their holiday inventory gone yesterday, shoppers want those huge deals, and the best markdowns sellout quickly. Plus, like any good yard sale, you better get there early.
Green Monday falls on the second Monday of December and is the last one with at least 10 days until Christmas. Spending has reached over $1B dollars every year since 2011, so while it's not a real holiday, it's not a day to ignore.
It's important to note that this annual exemption is your total allowance for a given tax year, which means you could give all £3,000 to one child, or split it between several children.. Note that this is a per person allowance, so both parents may gift £3,000 each per year tax-free.
"Around $25–$50 is thoughtful without being too much. If you're super close (or she's always spoiling you), $75–$150 is generous but not over the top," read Moonsift's website. "Honestly, it's less about the price and more about the thought.
Plan ahead. Going into the New Year, you could put small amounts of money aside for Christmas all year round and cut back on spending in other areas in the weeks or even months leading up to Christmas. For example, you could make cheaper meals when you can, and add any money saved to your Christmas pot.
